Breezy, cooler Friday; clouds stay for the weekend along with rain chances

A cool front will bring scattered showers through Acadiana Thursday evening with breezy and cooler conditions, along with lingering clouds into Friday.

Rain chances will stay near 50% associated with the frontal boundary that will cross the I-10 Parishes in Acadiana roughly between 10 pm and 11 pm, with a few spotty showers likely to follow the front into the wee morning hours of Friday.

Breezy and cooler conditions will follow with temperatures dropping into the mid-40s Friday morning, and then struggling to reach the low-mid 50s Friday afternoon under lingering cloud cover.

Those clouds may thin a little Friday afternoon, but they will return Saturday along followed by increasing rain chances late in the day into Saturday night.

Per the last few day's worth of forecasts, this weekend's weather system should bring mostly rain shower activity Saturday afternoon (at 60%) with some steadier rains, and perhaps a rumble of thunder or two Saturday night (80%).

Rain totals this weekend per latest forecast models, range from 1/4-1/2" from the European Model, to a more robust GFS Model with 1/2" to 1" expected...once again, just about every weather system this fall and winter has outperformed their forecasts, so leaning toward the GFS Model is most prudent at this time.

The weekend won't be a heavy rain washout like last weekend, but plan on packing the rain gear just in case, especially if you plan to attend the the Rio Parade in Lafayette Saturday evening.

Shower activity should end early Sunday morning with lingering clouds eventually giving way to the possibility of some sun late in the afternoon.

Temperatures this weekend will start in the lower 40s Saturday morning and rise and stay in the mid-upper 50s Saturday afternoon into Saturday night.

Sunday afternoon temperatures could push the upper 60s to possibly the lower 70s, depending on whether the clouds clear out earlier than expected.

Look for plenty of sunshine for sure Monday, with seasonable highs in the mid-upper 60s.

Another rain system will move into the region late Tuesday into early Wednesday. A few more embedded storms can be expected with the system mid-next week, but this one does not look to be a heavy rain-maker either at this time.

Thereafter, sunny and seasonable weather (albeit chilly at night) is anticipated Thursday into Friday with milder temperatures and eventually more clouds into the following weekend.

Another front could arrive that Sunday, which would bring drier conditions, and at this point, seasonably cool weather for Lundi and Mardi Gras...but we will see...that part of the forecast will be subject to change, like it always does during the winter months.

The Department of Interior will offer 77.3 million acres offshore Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, and Florida for oil and gas exploration and development, according to Deputy Secretary of the Interior David Bernhardt.

The Department of Interior will offer 77.3 million acres offshore Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, and Florida for oil and gas exploration and development, according to Deputy Secretary of the Interior David Bernhardt.